Shoe lace knot retainer

ABSTRACT

A knot retainer ( 1 ) for preventing a knot ( 2 ) comprising a knot body ( 8 ) from unintentionally becoming undone. The retainer comprises a plate-like member ( 3 ) and at least one thread-like member ( 4 ). The plate-like member ( 3 ) comprises a first end ( 5 ) and a second end ( 6 ) opposite the first end. The plate-like member further comprises first fastening means ( 10, 12, 13 ) for attaching and holding a first portion ( 16 ) of the thread-like member at or near the first end and second fastening means ( 11, 14, 15 ) for attaching and holding a second portion ( 17 ) of the thread-like member at or near the second end. The at least one thread-like member comprises at least a third portion ( 18 ) and a fourth portion ( 19 ) for being arranged adjacent the knot body on opposite sides thereof. At least one of the plate-like member and the thread-like member is elastic.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of knotting, in particular to the field of string knotting, more in particular to the field of lacing of footwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is generally known to affix a number of loose ends of string together by means of a knot. The most common realisation of this type is the tying of boot- or shoelaces with a bow, which knot comprises a knot body and loops and ends extending from the knot body. Such tying is usually learned by children at the age of about six years, prior to which their shoelaces must be tied by others. However, even well tied lace knots may become inadvertently undone, in particular smooth laces such as synthetic laces made from PVC, nylon etc. Obviously, this is undesirable. A common preventive measure is to tie a double knot. This, however, complicates intentional untying of the knot, in particular when the tied strings or laces have become dirty or wet. It also renders the resulting knot more bulky. A double knot therefore is less aesthetically pleasing and more cumbersome.

Several devices are known in the art for preventing a shoe lace knot from becoming inadvertently undone. E.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,529 describes a tying device for shoelaces which can be attached to the shoe and serves to maintain tied laces in their disposition. The device includes a plate-like member which remains exposed for viewing by the public and an eyelet member which receives the laces for securing the device to the shoe. An elastic band is integrated with the plate-like member and eyelet member for stretching over a shoelace knot to lock the device in place and prevent the shoelaces from becoming untied.

This tying device is relatively bulky and therefore unsuitable for use in sports shoes. The device is configured for remaining on the shoe after the laces are untied and it therewith hinders taking off the shoe.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,138 relates to tying devices which are secured to shoes for holding the shoelace knot in place. In the embodiments disclosed, the devices incorporate elastic means for engaging the shoelace knot from opposed sides to impede the knot from becoming untied while simultaneously exposing the knot for view and maintaining the normal appearance of the bow.

This device is integrated into the shoe and therefore cannot be used for different shoes. One embodiment comprises a bent hook for holding the elastic means, which interferes with tying and untying the laces and is thus uncomfortable in use. Another embodiment comprises velcro for holding the elastic means. This becomes unreliable over use as lint and/or dirt clog up the velcro material. Yet another embodiment comprises a bulky medallion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Consequently, there remains a desire for an improved lace knot retainer to alleviate the problems of the prior art.

To that end, a knot retainer for preventing a knot comprising a knot body from unintentionally becoming undone is provided, which comprises a plate-like member and at least one thread-like member. The plate-like member comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The plate-like member further comprises first fastening means for attaching and holding a first portion of the thread-like member at or near the first end and second fastening means for attaching and holding a second portion of the thread-like member at or near the second end. The at least one thread-like member comprises at least a third portion and a fourth portion for being arranged adjacent the knot body on opposite sides thereof. The plate-like member and/or the thread-like member is/are elastic.

The knot retainer allows to hold the knot body between the third and fourth portions of the thread-like member and to hold or clamp the ends of the strings or laces protruding from the knot body between the thread-like member and the plate-like member. This substantially prevents the ends from slipping and unintentionally undoing the knot without having to tie a double knot.

It was found that when playing ball sports such as football or soccer, bulky devices as well as double knots may hinder control over the ball and cause erratic shots. Since the present retainer may be relatively small and have a relatively low height or silhouette, it is particularly suited for use with soccer shoes.

Arranging the first and second fastening means to attach and hold the thread-like member at or near the opposite ends of the plate-like member allows sizing the thread-like member and the plate-like member substantially equal.

In case the thread-like member is significantly more elastic than the plate-like member, e.g. an elastic band and a (semi-)rigid plate-like member, the thread-like member substantially needs only to extend over the length of plate-like member and it needs not be stretched over large distances for attaching to the plate-like member. Similarly, in case the plate-like member is significantly more elastic than the thread-like member, e.g. an elastic piece of rubber and a metal wire, the elastic plate-like member need not stretched, compressed or bent far. Thus the elastic member may have a relatively high elastic force and therewith a strong clamping force against the relatively rigid member and still allow manipulating with relatively little strength, e.g. facilitating use by young children or with cold and relatively numb fingers.

The retainer is suitable for use with the plate-like member arranged underneath the knot, i.e. in-between the knot and an object such as the shoe being tied, or the other way around. In the first position the plate-like member may be substantially hidden from view.

The plate-like member may comprise at least one portion adapted for receiving at least a portion of the knot body, so as to assist maintaining the relative position of the plate-like member and the knot body. This may also reduce the combined volume of the knot and the knot retainer.

The first and/or second fastening means may comprise a latch or hook portion for reliably holding the elastic member. The first and/or second fastening means may be defined by one or more recessed portions of the first and/or second edge, respectively, reducing the size and complexity of the device and reducing the required extension for fastening the thread-like member to the plate-like member.

The thread-like member may comprise at least one tab portion for facilitating manipulation and/or for providing a surface such as for marking and/or advertising.

The invention will hereafter be more fully explained with reference to the drawings which show embodiments of the invention by way of non-limiting examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a knot retainer according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the knot retainer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the knot retainer of FIG. 1 with a schematic bow knot;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are top perspective views of an alternative embodiment of a knot retainer with and without a schematic bow knot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-3 show a knot retainer 1 for preventing undoing of a knot, in particular a shoe lace bow knot 2. The knot retainer comprises a plate-like member or body 3 and a thread-like member 4.

The plate-like member 3 is preferably substantially rigid relative to the thread-like member 4, and it is preferably made of a hard to moderately resilient material, e.g. metal, wood, plastics material such as POM, PEEK, PVC, PP, PPE, synthetic rubber or silicone material or combinations thereof. The thread-like member 4 is preferably an elastic band made of a natural elastic material or an elastic synthetic rubber or silicone material, e.g. being an elastomeric O-ring.

Opposite combinations of materials for the members such as a thread-like member made of a wire or strip of hard plastic or metal and a plate-like member made of rubber or silicone are equally possible.

The plate-like member 3 comprises a rear end generally indicated with numeral 5, a front end generally indicated with numeral 6 opposite the front end 5 and a center portion 7 in-between the front and rear ends 5, 6. The center portion 7 is adapted for receiving a portion of the knot body 8 of the knot 2 (FIG. 3). The loops 9 of the knot 2 and the ends of the strings or laces (not shown) protruding from the knot body 8 extend substantially sideways from the knot retainer 1, as will be discussed in more detail later.

The plate-like member 3 comprises fastening means for attaching and holding the thread-like member 4 in the form of a first hook portion 10 at the rear end 5 and a second hook portion 11 at the front end 6. In the shown embodiment, the hooks 10 and 11 are defined by recesses 12, 13 and 14, 15 in the rear and front ends 5, 6, respectively. The hook portions 10, 11 comprise a latch portion 10A and 11A, respectively, for additional securing of the thread-like member 4.

Alternatively, recesses may be provided in the sides of the plate-like member 3, resulting in a substantially T-shaped hook.

In the assembled state of the retainer 1 shown in FIGS. 1-3, the thread-like member 4 comprises a first portion 16 at the rear end 5, a second portion 17 at the front end 6, and a third portion 18 and a fourth portion 19 which are (arranged for being) positioned adjacent the knot body 8 on opposite sides thereof (FIGS. 1-2 and 3, respectively). However, one or both of the portions 16 and 17 may not be continuous, such that the thread-like member 4 is formed as a generally elongated thread with a U-shape in assembled state, or such that the thread-like member 4 comprises two parts separately attached or attachable to the plate-like member 3, each forming one of the portions 18, 19, e.g. by having a hooked or a bulbous portion, e.g. an integral relatively thick portion, a knot and/or one or more beads.

The loops 9 and ends of the laces protruding from the knot body 8 are clamped in-between the plate-like member 3 and the third and fourth portions 18, 19 of the thread-like member 4. The retainer 1 and the knot body 8 are held in place with respect to each other by the combined elastic action and shapes of the thread-like member 4, the plate-like member 3 and the knot body 8.

For using the retainer 1, the first and/or second portions 16, 17 of the thread-like member 4 are detached from the plate-like member 3, and the plate-like member 3 is arranged on one side of the knot body 8, preferably the underside, either by positioning the plate-like member 3 on one side of a previously tied knot 2, or by tying a knot 2 against the plate-like member 3. Next, the elastic band 4 is arranged over the knot 2 and fastened to the plate-like member to give the result generally indicated in FIG. 3.

In case the thread-like member 4 is an elastic band 4 to be fitted to a relatively rigid plate-like member 3, the band 4 need only be stretched a relatively small amount to fit over the hook 10 or 11. The elastic force of the band 4 can thus be relatively high allowing a good holding force of the retainer 1, wile still allowing relatively easy use. It may also allow a prolonged life of the elastic band 4 and it may further also improve user safety, since an elastic band which snaps while being stretched only a short distance will also relax within a short distance, such that it will not strike out potentially harmfully.

Alternatively, and a preferred option if the thread-like member 4 is the relatively rigid member and the plate-like member 3 is the relatively elastic member, the thread-like member 4 is first arranged on one side of the knot 2 and the plate-like member 3 is fastened afterwards to the thread-like member 4.

In the embodiment shown, the center portion 7 of the plate-like member 3 is recessed or concave with respect to the rear and front ends 5, 6. Alternatively, the center portion may comprise a recessed or concave portion also with respect to the side edges of the plate-like member 3 in between the ends 5, 6 and/or it may comprise an aperture in the plate-like member 3. Such aperture is preferably sized for preventing an average knot body 8 to fully penetrate through the aperture. Thus, maintaining a relatively good fixation of the relative positions of the plate-like member 3 and the knot body 8 is facilitated.

The member 3 or 4 of the retainer 1 that is to be worn closest to the foot may be generally curved with respect to the rear and front ends 5, 6 of the retainer. This allows ergonomic fitting the retainer 1 to the generally curved shape of a shoe or boot at the customary position of the shoe lace knot 2, following the slope and curve of the upper foot and therewith providing improved wearer comfort. In particular a curved shape of the plate-like member 3 may reduce the combined height of the shoe, the retainer 1 and the knot 2, which is more aesthetically pleasing and which may also improve ball control in soccer or football shoes or boots.

The present plate-like member 3 is also slightly trapezoidal, in that the rear end 5, which may be positioned towards the heel of a shoe, is wider than the front end 6, which may be positioned towards the tip of the shoe. This presents a substantially ergonomic fit to a shoe and thus to a foot, improving wearer comfort.

A somewhat resilient plate-like member 3 may further improve wearer comfort. It may also provide a more “natural” ball control in football or soccer than with a rigid member 3.

The recesses 12, 13 in the end 5 of the plate-like member 3 have a relatively narrow neck portion towards the outer edge of the plate-like member 3 and a relatively wider opening portion towards the center portion 7 of the plate-like member 3. Thus, the thread-like member 4 may be held securely within the recesses 12, 13, also when the thread-like member 4 is an elastic band 4 in a relaxed state, while allowing detaching and/or replacing an individual member 3, 4. In the shown embodiment the recesses 14, 15 do not have such a relatively narrow neck portion, but rather have a funnel-like shape, widening towards the outer edge of the plate-like member 3. This facilitates feeding the thread-like member 4 into the recesses 14, 15 and fastening the members 3, 4 with the hook portion 11.

It is preferred that the recesses 12-15 are formed such that the open portions thereof towards the center portion 7 of the plate-like member 3 are wider than the thickness of the thread-like member 4 at that position for improved freedom of movement, e.g. for adjustment to motion of a wearers foot. In case of an elastic thread-like member 4, this also facilitates movement of the thread-like member 4 with respect to the plate-like member 3 to allow distributing elastic stresses over substantially the entire length of the elastic member 4. Thus, excessive stress build-up in one position is reduced or prevented and service life may be prolonged.

A relatively elastic band 4 is protected from wear or snagging at its corners in-between the adjacent portions 16-18, 18-17, 17-19 and 19-16, respectively, by the outermost (corner) portions of a relatively rigid plate-like member 3 that define the recesses 13, 14, 15, 12, respectively.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an alternative embodiment of a retainer according to the invention, wherein like elements are indicated with like reference numerals.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a retainer 1 which is substantially equal to that of FIGS. 1-3. However, in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 the thread-like member 4 is provided with an additional tab 20. Here, the tab 20 is arranged in-between and bridging the side portions 18, 19 of the thread-like member 4. However, the tab may be attached to only a single portion of the thread-like member 4.

The tab 20 provides a gripping portion for facilitating manipulation of the thread-like portion 4, which is particularly useful for (un-)fastening an elastic thread-like member 4.

The tab 20 preferably is unitary with the thread-like member 4 but it may also be a separate part, possibly being of a different material than the thread-like member 4. Such a separate tab may have a loop-shape with an aperture or a channel for receiving one or more portions of the thread-like member 4.

The tab 20 hides the knot body 8 from view. This improves aesthetic value and assists reducing soiling of the knot body 8 which might hinder untying the knot 2.

In case the tab 20 is flexible and/or elastic, it may smoothen the shape of the knot body 8. This may increase ball control in case of football or soccer etc.

The tab 20 further provides a surface for marking and/or advertisement purposes, as indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Possible markings are brand indicia or soccer club indicia. The surface of the plate-like member 3 may also be used for marking and/or advertisement purposes.

The retainer 1 is preferably offered in pairs. Substantially rigid retainers 1 may be offered with spare elastic bands, possibly with tabs bearing different markings. Separate sets of tabs may also be provided.

The plate-like portion 3, the thread-like member 4 and/or the tab 20 of the retainer 1 may comprise communication means, e.g. an RFID-tag for use with a communication system, such as for identifying, monitoring and/or timing sportspersons.

The plate-like member 3, the thread-like member 4 and/or the tab 20 may also comprise fastening means, e.g. one or more recesses, holes or protrusions, for fastening a further object to the retainer 1, e.g. communication means, an advertisement tag or a cosmetic object.

The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiments which may be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, the shape of the plate-like member may differ and one or both hook portions 10, 11 may comprise additional features for fastening or clamping the thread-like member and the plate-like member together.

The retainer may comprise one or more hooks, eyes or other means for attaching at least the plate-like member of the retainer to an object to which the knot is to be tied, e.g. to the laces and/or to the tying portion of a piece of footwear.

The shape of the tab may differ, possibly extending substantially fully between the rear and front ends of the plate-like member e.g. as a relatively thin sheet-like member in-between relatively thick side portions of the thread-like member.

The thread-like member may also be provided with more than one separate tabs, e.g. a center tab 20 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and a manipulation tab at the front portion 17.

For increasing the retention force of the retainer 1 on the portions of the knot 2, the plate-like member 3 and/or the thread-like member 4 may comprise one or more portions with an elevated surface friction, e.g. comprising rough surface profile structures such as bumps, ribs or gratings, or a sticky surface. 

1. Knot retainer for preventing a knot comprising a knot body from unintentionally becoming undone, the retainer comprising a plate-like member and at least one thread-like member, wherein the plate-like member comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and first fastening means for attaching and holding a first portion of the thread-like member (4) at or near the first end (5) and second fastening means for attaching and holding a second portion of the thread-like member at or near the second end, and wherein the at least one thread-like member comprises at least a third portion and a fourth portion for being arranged adjacent the knot body on opposite sides thereof and wherein at least one of the plate-like member and the thread-like member is elastic.
 2. Knot retainer according to claim 1, wherein the plate-like member comprises at least one portion adapted for receiving at least a portion of the knot body.
 3. Knot retainer according to claim 2, wherein the receiving portion is a recessed portion with respect to the first end and the second end of the plate-like body.
 4. Knot retainer according to claim 2, wherein the receiving portion comprises an aperture in the plate-like member.
 5. Knot retainer according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second fastening means comprise a hook portion.
 6. Knot retainer according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second fastening means comprise one or more recessed portions in the first and/or second end, respectively.
 7. Knot retainer according to claim 1, wherein the thread-like member comprises at least one tab portion.
 8. Knot retainer according to claim 7, wherein the at least one tab portion extends between the third and the fourth portions of the thread-like member.
 9. Knot retainer according to claim 1, wherein the plate-like member and/or the thread-like member comprises at least one portion with an elevated surface friction.
 10. Knot retainer according to claim 1, comprising a marking surface.
 11. Knot retainer according to claim 1, comprising communication means.
 12. Knot retainer according to claim 1, comprising fastening means for fastening a further object to the retainer.
 13. Knot retainer according to claim 1, wherein the plate-like member is a relatively rigid body and the thread-like member is an elastic band.
 14. Knot retainer according to claim 3, wherein the receiving portion comprises an aperture in the plate-like member. 